Ranger Challenge Part II: The Competition
Eleven UNC-Chapel Hill Army ROTC cadets trained 40 times over 53 days to participate in the Oct. 17-18 Ranger Challenge. As we celebrate Veterans Day – and all who have served and continue to serve our country – we tell and show their story.
For UNC-Chapel Hill Army ROTC cadets, who receive commissions as Second Lieutenants along with their degrees after graduation, the Ranger Challenge is a way to physically and mentally prepare for a future with the U.S. Army.
So after weeks of demanding training, the 11 cadets from Carolina’s Ranger Challenge team were looking forward to testing their skills – while working together as a unit – as they traveled to Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Va. to compete against 39 other universities at the Oct. 17-18 Challenge.
“The proudest part during the competition is when you see everyone get pushed really hard and overcome the events,” said John Benton, a senior who was participating in his second Challenge. “It’s an honor to get the opportunity to serve with and lead all the cadets that work so hard and to work for them, too.”
After so much training, the cadets said they felt prepared. But with a 10- to 15-mile course that included 11 events such as a boat challenge and one-rope bridge, co-captain Lauren Stephenson said the competition seemed almost twice as long as in past years. And the physical challenges were more grueling.
“Within the past four years that I’ve done the Ranger Challenge, this was the most difficult competition,” Stephenson said.
The Day One competition included 8.35 miles of ruck marching – carrying about 45 pounds of equipment (Kevlar helmet, tactical load-bearing vest, uniform with combat boots, an M4 duck fake weapon, and an assault pack backpack). Tasks during the march included rowing across a lake to trade clean water for intelligence with a “local fisherman,” gathering intelligence about an enemy and target shooting.
“We treated it very seriously and wanted to do our best,” said Eric Kellomaki, a junior “but at the same time, we were there to have fun and to get a good training experience.”
On Day Two, cadets completed 5.5 miles more of ruck marching, but the tasks were more physical. Among the challenges: they assembled weapons, worked in a nine-man squad to knock out an “enemy” bunker, worked to get their entire squad and equipment over a one-rope bridge, tackled an obstacle course and completed the most grueling part of the competition – the ”Commanders’ Challenge,” during which the team, carrying all of its equipment, had to complete 100 log cleans, 300 burpees, 500 squats, carry a litter weighing 210 pounds and crawl 50 meters across grass and gravel.
“I was really happy with the team spirit we all maintained the whole time,” said Dave Mossman, a junior. “You pass other teams, and their heads are down, but we all kept smiling.”
In the end, Carolina finished fourth in its division behind Maryland’s McDaniel College, South Carolina’s Presbyterian College and Maryland’s Bowie State University. UNC-Chapel Hill finished ninth overall.
“Coming in fourth in our division made me really proud that we were able to come through the competition successfully,” Stephenson said.
“And we beat Duke.”
Added Carlos Cordero, who recently transitioned from the Army to UNC: “I was the most proud about our relationship, what we built. We were able to pull it together, motivate each other and pick each other up to do well in the next event. The experience — to have shared it together — to me, was most meaningful.”
